The 2018 Winter Poker Open ran December 6th through the 17th at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa. In that time, six guitar trophy events took place including the $1,650 Main Event. Laying claim to the series headliner was Michael McCarthy defeating a field of 609 entries and capturing $135,000 along with the guitar trophy.

For the fourth straight year, the Main Event drew massive numbers smashing the $500,000 guarantee. This year’s 609 entries generated a total prize pool worth better than $910,000.

(Tampa, Florida) – The Winter Poker Open Main Event concluded Monday night at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa, Florida. The $1,650 buy-in tournament drew droves of pros and amateurs alike and was won by New York’s Michael McCarthy following a three-way chop. As the champion, McCarthy was awarded $135,000 along with the property’s token trophy — a guitar.

2018 marked the fourth straight year the Main Event drew a supersized field smashing the $500,000 guarantee. With 609 entries, the guarantee was surpassed before cards went in the air on the third and final starting day and the field grew and grew until registration closed. In the end, 609 entries ponied up $1,650 generating a total kiddie worth $913,500.

There was a big influence of pros including 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Greg Raymer, former November Niners John Dolan and Neil Blumenfield as well as Tampa regular Jeff Trudeau who finished 26th in last July’s WSOP Main Event. Of these players, only Dolan found an in-the-money finish.

McCarthy kicked off the 2018 Winter Poker Open with an 11th-place finish in the big $570 buy-in, 867-entry opener last weekend. He parlayed that deep run and $6,564 score into a Main Event entry and some confidence heading into the spotlight event.

He kept a level head through all stages of play and never got dangerously short. He started Day 2 in the middle of the pack and remained in the middle of the pack by the time play narrowed to the nine-handed final table. As a matter of fact, McCarthy never made a run at the chip lead until he eliminated Tampa’s Alex Ivan in 5th place. Next to go was reigning Seminole Hard Rock Poker Player of the Year Brett Bader in 4th. McCarthy hit and ran getting the chip lead three-handed before agreeing to a chop. McCarthy and runner-up Richard Carr each took $135,000 while Michael Turton went down 3rd for just over $117,000. McCarthy went down as the champion take 1st place along with the trophy.

In addition to the trio of finalists, Rob Manjura (12th), Tom Nguyen (27th), AJ Kelsall (28th) and Anthony Dianaty (33rd) also finished in the money. One of the most notable scores of the event came via Duff Charette’s 11th-place finish. Charette was down to less than two big blinds prior to the money bubble and grinded his way all the way to a $14,890 score.

McCarthy is 29 years old and resides in Levittown, New York. He is a professional poker play now with four tournament wins and just over $200,000 in career earnings.

The chop talk took only a brief recess before the trio of remaining players came to a deal. Michael Turton worked his way up slightly from his ICM number, getting $117,615. As the two top stacks Michael McCarthy and Richard Carr each took $135,000 apiece. McCarthy went down as the champion taking 1st place and the guitar.

Michael McCarthyRichard CarrMichael Turton

A full recap will be posted later tonight. In the meantime, here’s a look at the tournament’s full results:

Brett Bader recently doubled up Michael Turton leaving himself with about 900,000 chips. Since then, he’s managed to double up twice, most recently picking up to double through Richard Carr’s all-in preflop.

Alex Ivan raised to 135,000 from late position. Zachary Gilbert shoved the small blind for what looked like just under 900,000. James Peterson folded the big sending it back to Ivan. He called and Gilbert was at risk but a huge favorite.

Gilbert: Ivan:

Runout:

The jack fell in the window giving Ivan a winning hand. Gilbert was eliminated in 7th place earning $29,826.

After an uneventful 45 minutes, James Peterson opened from early position to 135,000. It was on Ryan Anderkin in late position and he shoved for 935,000. It folded all the way back to Peterson and he called.

Ryan Anderkin’s 935,000 preflop shove

Peterson: Anderkin:

Runout:

Peterson’s aces held and Anderkin went down as the first elimination at the final table. Peterson took the chip lead.

The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Winter Poker Open Main Event began Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Day 1A, 1B and 1C. In those three days, more than 600 entries ponied up $1,650 to compete for a prize pool that topped $900,000. Following yesterday’s Day 2, only nine remain and Richard Carr leads the way with $180,205 and a guitar trophy reserved for the champion.

Carr is trailed closed by James Peterson in second place and also has the likes of reigning Seminole Hard Rock Poker Player of the Year Brett Bader and Tampa regulars Michael Turton and Alex Ivan on his heels.

Play resumes today at 2pm in the poker room. Each of the nine remaining players has locked up $19,023.

That’s a wrap for Sunday’s Winter Poker Open tournament updates. The complete results and a winner’s photo from today’s 2pm $250 eight max will be posted in the morning. Main Event updates will resume at 2pm with the final table.